Method and means for preparing envelopes for postal marking



April 17, 1962 R. POLK, JR 3,029,728

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREPARING ENVELOPES FOR POSTAL MARKING Filed Sept. 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS R. POLK, JR 3,029,728

METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREPARING ENVELOPES FOR POSTAL MARKING A ril 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 9, 1960 5%- ATTORNEYS nited States This invention relates to a method and means for preparing pre-stutfed envelopes for passage through a postage meter cancelling machine, or similar envelope marking device, and to improvements in such marking devices.

In most postal marking devices, a printing roller is mounted opposite a backing plate and pre-stuffed envelopes are fed between them to receive an impression of the printing roller. It is customary that this impression be made along the upper edge of the envelope adjacent the right end. With normal letter mail the impression is usually well made and quite distinct and legible. This is not the case, however, when an envelope contains a relatively thick insert, particularly when the insert includes a plurality of separate units, such as a packet of cancelled checks with a bank statement, or a small pamphlet, or any relatively bulky material of less depth than the envelope in which it is placed. Very frequently, the insert will be adjacent the bottom of the envelope, so that a narrow band a ong the top of the envelope is not supported by the insert and, therefore, has no pressure contact with the printing roller. This results in an imperfect impression which is unreadable.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a method and means to insure full backing of an insert in that area of an envelope upon which an impression is to be made, during passage of the envelope through the printing area of a postage meter, cancellation device, or other envelope marking mechanism.

A more specific object of the invention is to attain the above object by providing for agitation of envelopes, prior to presentation to the printing roller, in a manner to cause inserts within the envelope to move to a predetermined area in the envelope to obtain uniform thickness of the envelope in the predetermined area.

Another object is to provide a path along which envelopes may travel in selected position, while imparting vibration to the path to cause inserts within envelopes on the path to settle to a desired area of the envelopes.

Still another object is to provide means to assure an envelope having its inserts placed to provide full backing in a predetermined area and to locate the printing roller along the path of travel of the insert-backed portion of the envelope.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of practical embodiments thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and formpart of, this specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the desired relationship of an envelope and its insert with relation to. the printing roller and backing plate of a postal marking machine;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of one end of a postal marking machine and an envelope feed mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a vertical, transverse section through the feed mechanism, taken on the line 44 of FIG- URE 2.

In general, the invention concerns the presentation of stuffed envelopes to a printing roller in such manner that the inserts within the envelope provide a backing for a predetermined area of theenvelope and the printing roller ice is arranged relative to the envelope position so as to make an impression within the predetermined area. This can be carried out in two ways, first by standing the envelopes upon their top edges to cause the inserts to move to the top and mounting the roller adjacent the base on which the envelopes stand, or, second, by agitating the envelope to shift the insert to the desired placement within the envelope, and then turning the envelope as required to present it to a fixed roller position. In either event, the printing roller bears upon the envelope in an area which is backed by the envelope insert.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first adverting to FEGURE 1, an envelope 1 having the usual sealing flap 2 folded along the top edge of the envelope is shown in inverted position upon a pathway, or supporting platform, 3. Movement of the envelope along the pathway carries it between a vertical backing plate 4 and a printing roller 5 which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. The backing plate and printing roller are illustrative of the impression mechanism in a postage meter, or other postal marking machine. It will be understood that the roller and backing plate are yieldingly urged toward contact, but will separate as an envelope enters between them so that proper pressure contact with the envelope may be obtanied.

Envelope 1 is shown as having a plurality of inserts 6, which spread the sides of the envelope so that in those areas not occupied by the inserts, as in the area 7, the sides are out of contact with one another and unsupported. Therefore, the present invention contemplates inverting the envelope, as shown, and positioning the printing roller adjacent the pathway upon which the envelope moves, in those installations where the envelope moves through the marking apparatus in an upright position. In some cases, it will be found desirable to agitate, or vibrate, envelopes moving toward the printing roller. In any event, with the envelope inverted and the inserts moved solidly into the inverted top of the envelope, the top edge portion of the envelope front which usually receives the marking will be firmly hacked to insure a. complete, legible impression being made.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown a feeding device which is capable of moving envelopes to a postage meter, or the like, and arranging the inserts within the envelopes in a selected position while in transit. The feeding device can be adapted to deliver envelopes to the marking device either vertically or horizontally as required by the particular machine being fed.

The device is mounted upon a suitable frame 8 which may take any appropriate form. It is shown as comprising a base 9 from which a post It) and a plurality of supporting legs 11, 12 and 13 project upwardly for mounting parts of the mechanism.

Post 10 carries a mounting pin 14 near its upper end to which one end of an upwardly opening U-shaped guide trough 15 is pivotally connected. The trough extends angularly downward from its pivoted end and has its lower end connected to the movable element 16 of a vibrator unit 17, rigidly mounted upon the frame legs 11. It will be clear that with this arrangement the trough will be given an oscillatory movement about its pivot, with the greatest amplitude of movement being at the lower end.

A guide plate 18 also has one end attached to the top of post 10, above the trough position and in the vertical plane of the rear leg of the U-shaped trough to provide support to envelopes in the trough. The lower end of the guide plate is secured to the upper end of one of the legs 12. The plate will be spaced from the trough a suflicient distance to allow free vibratory movement of the trough.

A. uid r i .9 s moun d n front o t ui e Plate above the exit end of the trough, to complete the guideway for envelopes. Guide rail 19 is suspended by a bracket 29 connected to the guide plate 18. The end 21 of the rail may be flared away from the guide plate to facilitate entry of envelopes between the guide plate and guide rail. A spring; finger 22 may be attached to the rail to exert light pressure against envelopes moving along the P th y r ded b h ou A feed belt- 23 has one end of its horizontal top flight 1Q extending beneath the exit end of the trough to receive envelopes from the trough and transport them to the postal marking machine being fed. Belt 23 is mounted upon rollers 25 and 2 6, rotatably mounted in legs 12 and, 13. Above the belt there is an envelope backing rail, or plate, 27 which will serve to assist envelopes emerging from the trough in falling in predetermined position upon the top flight of the belt. At the discharge end of the belt there is a feed roller 28, positioned above the belt on one end of an arm 29, pivotally connected at its other end to the backing rail 27. Roller 28 may rest: upon the belt, when no envelopes are on the belt, or a, stop 29-, or leg 13, may be used to contact arm 29 and. hold the roller spaced slightly above the belt. When an envelope moves along the belt it will lift the roller so that the envelope will be between the belt and roller.

Belt 23 and roller 28 will be driven and the peripheral speed of the roller and the linear speed of the belt will be the same so that the two. will form a feed couple to. positively insert envelopes into the postal marking machine indicated generally at 30. The drive may come from the machine being fed, or the feeding device mayhave its own motor. In. eitherevent, the drive will be bychain 31 to a sprocket 32 on the shaft of roller 25. A second sprocket 33 on the same shaft carries a chain 34 to. drive sprocket 35 on the pivot shaft 36 for the arm 29.. A gear 3T7 on shaft 36 meshes with another gear 38 on roller shaft 39 to drive the roller.

The vibrator unit may be electrical or a mechanical eccentric type. It is shown as electrical, and has a cord 40. which can be connected to a suitable electric outlet.

The feeding device will be set up adjacent the envelope entrance of a postage meter, or similar device, so that envelopes emerging from the feed couple will be inserted i-nto the postal machine. When it is desired to use the device, the drive is started to begin movement of the belt and roller and the vibrator is turned on. This will put the trough in vertical vibratory movement. Envelopes will be put into the trough near the top, that is, above the guide rail 1?, to move down between the guide plate and guide rail. The envelope is placed in the trough with its top edge down and the sealing flap facing outwardly away from the guide plate 18. Thus, the upper right hand corner of the face of the envelope Will be in the trough at the leading edge of the envelope in its travel down the trough. This also places the envelope so that the designated corner is the lowest part.

of the envelope. Because of this arrangement and the vibratory movement of the trough being transmitted to the envelope, inserts within the envelope will be shaken into the described corner into contact with the envelope top fold and right hand edge. This will ensure complete backing of the envelope face in the desired area. The vibratory effect upon the envelope becomes more severe as the, envelope reaches the lower end of the trough, but the light contact of the spring finger 22 will suflice to hold the envelope against movement from the trough.

The envelopes will move from the trough onto the belt in vertical position and will be held upright as long as a portion remains behind the guide rail. As soon as the trailing edge of the envelope moves away from the guide rail, the envelope will be unsupported on one side and will fall over onto the belt. This will result in the envelope approaching the postal machine face up and with its right edge the leading edge. This will properly place the envelope for a printing roller mounted above a backing plate upon a horizontal axis. The inserts which had been vibrated into the upper right hand corner of the envelope will remain there to give the envelope uniform, firm thickness in the area upon which the impression is to be made.

While in the above a practical embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be obvious that the details of structure shown and described are merely for purposes of illustration, and the invention may take other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In the method for placing a postal marking upon an envelope having an insert by passing the envelope between a printing roller and backing plate, the improvement which comprises, holding the envelope on edge with the edge adjacent which the postal marking is to be made downward, agitating the envelope vertically to shake the insert downwardly in the envelope into backing relation to the. area of the envelope to be marked, then passing the enevlope between the printing roller and backing plate.

2. In the method for placing a postal marking upon an envelope as claimed in claim 1, tilting the envelope in a vertical plane before agitating to position one lower corner below the other to settle the insert into the lowermost corner.

3. Apparatus for imprinting adjacent one edge envelopes having inserts therein comprising, means forming a pathway along which envelopes may be: passed on edge with the edge adjacent the area to be imprinted downward, a backing plate at one side of the pathway, a printing roller spaced from the backing plate and adjacent the pathway, at least a portion of the pathway along which the envelopes may be passed before reaching the printing roller and backing plate positions being movable in a vertical plane, and means to move vertically in rapid osciilation the movable portion of the pathway.

4. Apparatus for preparing envelopes having inserts for imprinting adjacent one edge comprising, a frame, means on the frame forming a declining pathway alongwhich envelopes may be advanced vertically with the edge adjacent which the imprint is to be made downward, means to vibrate vertically the means forming a pathway to settle the inserts into one corner of the down placed edge of the envelope.

5. Apparatus for preparing envelopes having inserts for imprinting adjacent one edge comprising, a frame, means on the frame forming a pathway along which the envelopes may be advanced vertically with the edge adjacent which the imprint is to be made downward, means to vibrate vertically the means forming the pathway to settle the inserts to the down-placed edge of the envelope, a conveyor extending from the pathway in the direction of envelope movement to carryenvelopes from the pathway, and means above the conveyor adjacent the end of the pathway to cause envelopes moving onto the conveyor to fall flat upon the conveyor in predetermined direction.

6. Apparatus for preparing envelopes having inserts for imprinting adjacent one edge comprising, a frame, a trough on the frame in which envelopes can be placed vertically on edge with the edge adjacent which an imprint is to be made downward and along which envelopes can move, vibrator means interposed between the frame and the trough so as to provide vertical vibration to the trough, and a-conveyor mounted on the frame, and extending from the trough in the direction of envelope movementto transport envelopes from the trough to a place to be imprinted.

7. Apparatus for preparing envelopes for imprinting as claimed in claim 6 wherein the trough declines in the direction of envelope movement providing upper and lower ends for the trough, and the trough is pivotally connected to the frame adjacent its upper end.

sage along the trough, and guide means along one side 10 of the conveyor to insure envelopes falling in a predetermined direction fiat upon the conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McCain et a1. Dec. 21, 1954 Gottscho May 22, 1956 Strother et a1. May 26, 1959 

